All:
There is some reward for posting on Fabnet and on Geeks. A fabricator in my area apparently read these threads and when a potential customer called for an out-of-warranty bowl repair, he referred them to me. I owe him my thanks and at least a beer with lunch.
The customers had a Fountainhead top and bowl and had the bowl replaced previously under warranty. When it failed the second time they were told by Formica/Fountainhead, "Sorry, we're in bankruptcy, you are S.O.L."
Do not, as I did, try to satisfy your customer by matching the existing obsolete bowl. I spent an hour or so searching for a match on the net and thought I had one with an Integra Classic Right. http://www.integrasinks.com/ I was so sure it would fit, I didn't even open it until I had the old sink removed. Imagine my shock and horror as the new bowl dropped right through the old hole without touching anything, and of course, in front of the customer. Don't trust the dimensions given over the phone.
The guy really wants it fixed today, "What can we do?" he asks. We can install the Mother of all sinks, the Corian 902, that's what. That baby's got a huge footprint. Of course, the "under a thousand dollars" budget I promised for plumbing, removal and replacement is now out the window. I think I know why they call it the 902, that's probably the suggested retail price, the wholesale is around 30% less.
Four hours later, the Integra is on it's way back, my charge card is credited and the 902 awaits installation. I finished up at 8:30 p.m. Andy called me while I was hooking up the drain lines. I told him to call me back, but he didn't. I digress.
Anyway, the lesson is, always replace with a dead match or a no-doubt-about-it larger sink. Save four hours.
Joe